Method and apparatus for producing molten glass



mg. 11, 1931. J. L. DRAKE 1,81%,203

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING MOLTEN GLASS Filed July 27, 1927 (/0110 L. Drake.

Guam;

Fatented Aug. 11, 1931 sA'rEs tnazos PATENT OFF! JOHN L. D i i 0F TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGHOR T0 LIBBEY-O'WENS-IOBD GLASS! CQHPA'NY, 0F TOLEDO, OHIG, A CORPORATION OF OHIO Application filed July 2?,

This invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for producing molten fact that the upper stratum of the molten 15 glass moves toward the point of draw much more rapidly than the remaining glass with the result that the lower glass remains practically stationary. Sheet glass produced from improperly refined glass usually conas tains a considerable number of seeds, blisters and other well known defects which impair the quality of the finished product.

Also, in furnaces of this type, the sheet is ordinarily drawn from the surface or upperas most stratum of molten glass and since a certain amount of scum, etc. usually forms upon this surface glass it is not as desirable as is the substratum glass which is usually of a somewhat better quality. Moreover, it

an is advisable that this scum, etc. be prevented from finding its way into the finished sheet.

An object of the present invention is to provide a tank furnace of improved construction wherein the molten glass will be caused 35 to flow therethrough more slowly than heretofore with the result that the said glass will be given a longer and it is believed suflicient length of time to completely refine and settle before it is introduced into the finished articc ,cle to the end that the said glass will be, practically speaking, free from seeds, blisters, etc.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved tank furnace with means at for efiectively preventing the surface glass upon which the scum, etc. usually forms from finding its way into the path of the molten glass being drawn therefrom.

A further object of the invention is to proto vide an improved tank furnace of this na 1927. Serial l lo. 208,694.

ture including a melting chamber and a cooling chamber associated therewith, means being provided for causing the lowermost stratum of molten glass to flow from the melting chamber into said cooling chamber, and means being also provided for catching the uppermost stratum or surface glass and causing it to How exteriorly of the furnace.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent during the course of'the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings formin a part of this application and wherein li e numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through a portion of an improved tank furnace constructed in accordance with th present invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section through" a portion thereof, and

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section showing a slightly modified construction.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the numeral 5 designates a portion of a melting tank within which the glass batch ingredients are melted to form a mass of molten glass 6. This tank from the melting tank to the working recep tacle.

Ordinarily, in furnaces of this nature, the molten glass, after being produced within the melting end of tank 5 is adapted to flow into the refining end thereof and thence through the cooling chamber 7 into the working receptacle 8 from which it may be drawn away in sheet form as at 10 or formed into other glass articles as desired.

Mid

As brou ht out above,'due to the constant removal the molten glass at one end of the furnace and the constant replacement of the glass batch ingredients at the opposite end thereof, the flow of molten glass through-the furnace is relativel fast so that the time required or allowed or the melting and refin-- ing is comparatively short. It is an aim of the present invention to rovide means whereby the molten glass will be caused to remain within the furnace for a longer riod of time so that it will be given a s cient length of time to com letely refine and settle before it is introduce into the sheet or other glass article. i

To this end, there is'arranged within the cooling chamber 7-, a proximately intermediate its ends, a depen mglbafile wall 11, said wall projecting downwar into the molten 10.58 and terminating in c ose proximity to e bottom of the furnace to provide a relatively narrow passage 12 through, which the moltenlglass is adapted to flow from the meltin%ta into the coolin chamber. Q

y arranging the ba e wall in this man ner, onl the lowermost stratum of molten glass w' be permitted to flow into the coolin chamber with the result that the glass wil remain within the melting tank 'or a longer 1period than in a regular tank furnace. other words, the molten glass must not only flow through the tank but must also settle to the bottom thereof before it is removed. In prior constructions, the surface lass would-flow quite rapidly through the rnace into the working receptacle while the lower glass would remain practically stationary.

After the glass flows through the passa e 12, it must then flow upwardly into the wor ing receptacle. Thus, by the time the molten lass reaches the working receptacle, it will ractically speaking, comp etely refined and settled and in proper condition for 45 working. Also, the finished product should be of a much better quality since it would be drawn from the substratum glass instead of the surface glass which, as stated above, usually has a certain amount of .scum, etc. 6 floating thereon. Y r

The present invention further proposes the rovision of means for effectively preventmg the surface glass from finding its way into the path of the glass flowing from the melting tank and in this way being drawn therewith into thev working receptacle and ultimately into the article being produced. This is accomplished b constructing the bafile wall'11 with a substantially vertical portion 13 and a rearwardly and downwardly slanting portion 14, which latter portion terminates at substantiall the juncture of the melting tank 5 and coolin chamber 7.

By constructing the ba e wall in this Jl manner, there will be created a pocket or the like for receiving the surface glass. The side walls of the cooling chamber 7 are rovided immediately adjacent the baflle we 11 with o nin 15 WhlCh are preferably disposed s ightly beneath the level of the molten glass in order that the surface glass will be permitted to readily flow therethrough. Themolten, glass flowing through these openings will exert a constant pull upon the remaining surface glass which will cause this glass to flow exteriorly of the furnace into suitable rece tacles or containers 16 which may contam water or the like for rapidly cooling the glass. Thus, the surface glass 11 n which the scum, etc. usually forms will ow through the furnace and be caught within the pocket 20 from which it will be caused to flow exteriorly of the furnace through the openings 15. This surface glass will, 1n this manner, be prevented from finding its way into the path of draw and thereby'bein car.- ried with the substratum glass throug the cooling chamber into the working receptacle.

invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as the preferred embodiment of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the s irit of the invention or the scope of the sulijoined claims.

Claims:

1. Ina continuous tank furnace, a melting tank containing a mass of molten glass, a cooling chamber in communication with the said melting tank, means for causing the lowermost stratum of molten glass within the melting tank tofiow through the cooling chamber, and means for causing the uppermost stratum'or surface glass to flow exteriorly of said melting tank.

2. In a continuous tank furnace, a melt-' ing tank containing a mass of molten glass, a cooling chamber in communication with said melting tank, and means arranged within the cooling chamber and depending within .the molten glass for causing the lowermost stratum of molten glass within said melting tank to flow through the cooling chamber, the said cooling chamber being provided with openings beneath the level of the molten glass for causing the uppermost stratum or surface glass to flow exteriorly thereof.

3. In a continuous tank furnace, a meltammo:

mu containing a mass of molten glass, 3

stratum or surface gim co flow,

ccoiiug chamber commuuicacing with said ieriorly thereof,

moi icuk, and o member arranged wichin we coog chomuer oud depending wiohin the molten glass for causing the iowcrmcs 's scrccum of molten glass to flow into and. bhrough said cooling chamber, said member being coustsucocfi'so form a. pocket for reocivmg she uppermost stratum or surface gloss, cud the wells of the cooling chamber being rovidcd Wick openings disposed,- beuoo ch c icvci oi obs moiicn glass for cousthis surface glass to flow exoeriorly therein c continuous took iumuce, a melting comaining a mess of molten glass, e cooling cucumber comuoumccfim with said melting huuk, smi o, bcuio Wu arranged Within said cooiiu churches scid woll depending the molueu gloss cud tormiueibiuciu ciosc proximity to the bottom of said EATIQ$G9 the lower POXMQD. of said wail being closer to the melting tank sham the upper portion iheicoi 5. The method of producing moiiou gloss which cousisis in establishing c, muss oi ,moiccu glass in a container, flowing the low m wmiuuousiy flowing the uppermost ormost stzutum of gisss only from suifi muss into o second container-5 and in simultcuc ousiy rcmoviu the uppermosi strutumofi gloss from sci muss.

c. Thegmeihou of prodluciug molten glass which consists in cstabiishiug c mass or moiueu gloss in a consumer, o, contiuuousiy flowing cine lowermost stratum of glass only iirom said muss into a. second comuiner, and

col us to form. u'pockc't for cutchmgthe uppermost stratum or surface glass, said pockets haviu outlets through which she surface gloss is caused to flow exteriorly of ihe imam. i

8; In c continuou sank furnace, a melting icmk containing a. mass of molten glass, c cooiiug chamber in communication with the meiting ionic, and means wronged within .ihe cooling chamber and depending within the molten glass and terminating in close.

Si ed at Toledo, in the couusy of Lucas cud tote of Qhio, this 231% day of July,-

proximity to the bottom oi said furnace for I causing the lowermost. stratum 'ofrmolten glass Within said melting tank so flow through 'icvoi of the molteu glass the cooiingchamber, the said cooling her being provided with ogenings benesth the or causilig the up:

chamcom; 1L. "DRAM.

ice; 

